SERM.not justify; For the one fpeaking pro V. feffedly of the works of the Jewish Religion, and the other of the works of the Christian, it is plain that the Faith of the Christian Religion may avail to justify a man without the Works of the Jewish Religion, which is the affertion of St Paul; though it cannot do fo without the works of the Christian Religion, which is the affertion of St James; So that there is no other difference between these two great Apostles, than as if a man fhould fay, that believing the Chriftian Religion is fufficient to Salvation without obeying the law of Mofes, but that it cannot be fo without obeying the commands of Chrift. Fourthly; FROM hence we may infer, that when any two paffages of Scripture feem contrary one to another, whereof the one be controverfial, and the other plain and moral; we must always endeavour to accommodate the controverfial paffage to the plain one, and not the plain one to the controverfial. And the Reason is evident; because the plain moral paffage cannot be mistaken, being interpreted according to the most obvious and literal fenfe; but the the fenfe of the controverfial paffage can-SER M, not be rightly understood, without under- V. ftanding the particular controversy about which it was written. Fifthly and Laftly; IF St Paul fo feverely treated the Judaizing Chriftians, as to call them perverters of the Gofpel of Christ, and efteem them as preachers of another Gospel; then let us alfo take heed left on the authority of men we preach or obey at any time any other Gospel than what Chrift and his Apostles preached and obeyed. If thofe men, who together with the fimplicity and spiritual nature of the Christian Religion, would needs retain alfo thofe ceremonial obfervances which God himself had appointed under the Jewish dispensation; were accounted fo much to trouble the Church of God, that the Apoftle declares that though it were an Angel from Heaven that should preach any fuch doctrine, he should be accurfed: then let us take care, left in a higher degree we be found guilty of the fame crime, if with the great and moral duties, thofe weightier matters of the law, we not only equal the outward and ceremonial part of Religion, but SER M. but also prefer it before them; accounting V. our felves fufficiently religious if we have but the form of Godliness, though we deny the power thereof. But let no man deceive you, faith St John; He that doth. righteousness, and he only, fhall be accounted righteous in the fight of God. SERMON SERMON VI. The Practice of Virtue the greatest I PETER . 13. And who is he that will harm you, if you be followers of that which is good? T HE Apoftle having in the former SER M. lar duties; proceeds in the 10th Verfe, to enforce his exhortations with fuch motives, as are apt to work most effectually on the minds of men: He inforces it with the confideration of the blessing and happiness, that attends the performance of VOL. X. thofe K SERM.thofe duties. He that will love life, faith VI. he, and fee good days, let him refrain bis tongue from evil, and his lips that they Speak no guile; let him efchew evil and do good; let him feek peace and enfue it; for the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are opened unto their prayers; but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil. To which words, cited out of the 34th Pfalm, the Apoftle adds in the words of the text, And who is he that will harm you if ye be followers of that which is good? The word in the original fignifies indifferently, either will or shall harm you; and fo the Text plainly contains this double propofition: That if a man be a follower of that which is good, 'tis probable Men will not have any defire to harm him; and if they would, yet 'tis certain no man all have any power to do it: 'Tis the most likely method to make all men our friends; and if it does not that, yet 'tis the most certain fecurity that they hall not be able to hurt us, though they be enemies. I. First, IF a man be a follower of that which is good, i. e. a fincere praifer of univerfal righteoufness, 'tis probable |